Flood Management in Banbury Case Study

Question 1

Where is Banbury?

Answer 1

50km North of Oxford on the River Cherwell

Question 2

Why does Banbury need protection from floods?

Answer 2

• HIstory of large floods
• Floods in the past have destroyed the train station and roads
• In 1998 the cost of the flood was 12.5 million
• 150 homes and businesses have been affected

Question 3

What hard engineering strategies have been used in Banbury?

Answer 3

• The A361 has been raised
• Floodwall built around motorsport company Prodrive
• New pumping stations to transfer rainwater
• Flow control structures
• Embankment 4.5 metres high made of soil
• Borrow area where the soil for the embankment came from which is now a reservoir

Question 4

What soft engineering strategy has been used in Banbury?

Answer 4

-Biodiversity Action Plan to increase habitats hedgerows and trees

Question 5

What were the social benefits of the flood alleviation schemes?

Answer 5

• The A361 can continue to be open in a flood so people can still go to school and work etc.
• Quality of life is improved as there are new footpaths and green areas
• Reduced levels of anxiety through fear of flooding

Question 6

What were the economic benefits of the flood alleviation schemes?

Answer 6

• It protects 441 houses and 73 commercial properties
• The benefits are estimated to be worth £100 million
• Property values increase as they are no longer at risk of flooding

Question 7

What were the economic costs of the flood alleviation schemes?

Answer 7

-The cost of the scheme was £18.5 million

Question 8

What were the environmental benefits of the flood alleviation schemes?

Answer 8

• Around 100,000 tonnes of earth were required to make the embankment. this created a reservoir habitat.
• The BAP has created a new habitat of ponds, trees and hedgerows
• Part of the floodplain will be left to flood if river levels get too high